LA JUNTA CO June 16 1979 — A pair of ATSF SD39s sit at the La Junta fuel racks. EMD built the 4016 (s/n 35036) as a Locotrol master in May 1969 and delivered it in Bookends livery with blue body and yellow ends. After mid-June 1972 it was repainted with blue body and yellow warbonnet. In January 1986 it was rebuilt as an SD39u, renumbered 1568 and painted in the failed Southern Pacific Santa Fe red body, black roof and yellow warbonnet merger paint. After the merger’s failure it was repainted into blue body with yellow warbonnet sometime before Oct 1 1990. It was transferred to BNSF on Sept 22 1995. The unit was renumbered BNSF 6212 and repainted into H1 BNSF livery. Search for it on railpictures.net My photo.
Aside from Warbonnets and Chiefs, Santa Fe was a workaday railroad like any other. This album showcases that less glamorous--but no less vital--side of the famous ATSF.
